Davenport



J n 1931. J; D. BELL 1,789,094

DAVENPORT Filed Feb. 9, 1927 INVENTOR JOSEPH D. BELL J: n I AITYI Patented Jan. 13, 1931 .rosnrn: D. BELL, or sen rRAivcIsoo; CALIFORNIA? DAVENPORT Application filed Fbruary 9, 1.927. Serial No. 166,963.

This invention relates to improvements in sofa beds or davenports of the type wherein a sectional folding mattress or bed frame is so constructed and arranged that it may be readily extended for use as a bed on inverting the seat of the davenport and also readily folded into small compass lying rearwardly of the seat, in such manner that adequate space is provided for the bedding, there being in combination With the bed frame a bed end or foot piece of the same size and general construction and appearance as the ordinary stationary bed end. The improvement comprises a novel and eflicient reinforcing bed spring arrangement which is associatec'l with the spring fabric and with the seat member in such manner as to; provide added comfort and stability in the bed structure, the arrangement of the springs being such that the folding and unfolding of the bed is made easier rather than interfered With.

One of the purposes of the invention is to provide in a folding sofa bed of the character described additional bed springs which will afford added comfort to the user of the bed,- prevent sagging of the spring fabric and generally improve the structure WliJhO'lllI making the folding'or unfolding operation more difficult and Without increasing the bulk of the bed when it is foldedr lVith the above mentioned and other ob jectsin View the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described illustrated in the accompanying drawing,- and set forth in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form,

'pcrportion; size and minor details of construction Within the scope of the claims may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Referring to the drawing: 7

Fi 1. representsa top plan view of a da ven 'aort bed constructed accordance with this invention as when extended for use. a

Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of the is common in the art.

bed as shown in Fig. 1 and as being brofien away and shov'vn'in section; and other parts section 5', all pivoted to one another. A

spring fabric 6 made of suitable Wire and springs as generally employed in the art, is joined to the several sections of the bed frai'ne. This fabricbeing flexible will permit'of the folding" and unfolding of the bed sections. The outer section 3 has pivotally connected thereto means of links 7, a bed end 8 of the regular stationary bed typey which bed end When the sections are folded, will lie against and in front of the front section 3.. The rear section 5 has a pivotal and slidable connection with the davenport frame permitting the upward extension of the rear end thereof when the bed frame is folded. It is not thought necessary to illus= tra'te' this means of connection as such means Connected with the front board 9 of the davenport frame means of hinges 10 is an invertible seat 11. A U-shaped bar 12 is pivoted as at 13 to the under side of the seat adjacent the forward edge of the latter and has it's ends pivoted as at 14 to the intermediate section 4. The particular bed of this invention, except the improvements thereto disclosed in this application, is the same as shown in my pendin application for patent filed April 12, 1924,, Serial N o. 7 06,066. Mounted on the back of the frame 1 is a back rest 15 joined to the davenport frame by means of cross links 16 and 17 which are pivoted at certain ends to a plate 18 on the back 15 and at their other ends to a plate 19 on the frame 1. The links 16 are straight. Whereas the links 17 are above referred to.

- of the bed when folded.

the bed between the seat and intermediate section 4. These springs at their upper edges are secured by suitable fastenings 21 to a rectangular, preferably stiff, wire frame 22. This frame extends beneath the spring fabric 6 and is joined to said fabric by the fastenings 21. At its ends the frame 22 is provided with hooks 23 which hook over the outer edges of the spring fabric and assist in holding the frame in place. iThe lower ends of the springs are secured to the under side of the seat 11 adjacent the forward edge of the seat when the latter is inverted, by means of a clamping or securing strip 24, the ends of the spring being clamped under this strip which is secured by suitable fastenings to the seat. The upper ends of the springs and the frame 22 are disposed at the juncture of the intermediate and front sections of the bed frame. It is found that by locating the springs at this point, the fabric will better accommodate itself to the curves of the body of the occupant of the bed and a more comfortable spring arrangement having the necessary resiliency and stability will be provided. It is thought unnecessary to describe in detail the operation of folding the bed so that it lies rearwardly of the seat, and also the operation of extending the bed into position of use inasmuch as this is carefully defined in my pending application However, when the mattress or bed frame is folded and lies in the position shown in Fig. 3 rearwardly of the seat member 11, the springs 20 are disposed in a substantially horizontal position instead of the vertical position shown in Fig. 2. In this way the springswill bend and flex so as to accommodate themselvesto the folded bed frame without interfering with the folding operation or in any way adding to the bulk On unfolding and extending the bed into position of use, these springs will be disposed in position shown in Fig. 2 and will thereby provide the necessary support for the spring fabric at the proper point of the bed.

The spring arrangement of my invention which includes a plurality of spiral springs 20- act to push the spring fabric and'bedding.

rearwardly (see Fig. 3) and to prevent the .sharp bending of the spring fabric.

It will be noted that the row'of springs is arranged so that there are provided a plurality of resilient supports at approximately the center of the bed, which resilient supports stand vertically when the seat is inverted and the bed frame extended and sway forward and rearward, or in other words extend rearwardly and forwardly in inclining positions on the movement of the seat. The flexing of the springs permits the springs to assume these different positions. In this way the compactfolding of the bed assembly is provided for without interfering with the springs in their serving as a central resilient support for the bed frame. These springs are of greater length than the vertical length of the front board and their lower ends when the seat is invented, lie in substantially the same horizontal plane as the top of the front board. However, when the bed is folded these springs are concealed behind the front board and beneath the seat and lie in the and davenport frame, said two means ofconnection providing for movementof the bed frame from extended position into collapsed position with thebed frame lying for the most part rearward of the seat and a plurality of springs interposed between and connected with the spring fabric and under side'of the seat along the rear edge of said seat, which springs are joined to the fabric at a point adjacent the juncture of the intermediate and outer sections and are vertically disposed when the seat is inverted and substantially horizontally disposed when the bed frame is folded whereby the springs along the rear edge of the seat urge the spring fabric rearwardly in the sofa frame away from contact with the seat edge to permit the seat to rest in a horizontal position when folded.

2. A sofa bed comprising a sofa frame, a sectional, fo-ldable bed frame comprising an outer section, an intermediate section and an inner section pivotally connected with one another and a flexible spring fabric joined with said frames, an invertible seat hinged on the sofa frame, means of operative connection between the seat and intermediate frame, means of operative connection between the inner frame and davenport frame, said twomeans of connection providing for movement of the bed frame from extended position into collapsed position with the bed frame lying for the most part interposed between and connected with the spring fabric and under side of the seat along the rear edge of said seat, which springs are joined to the fabric at a point adjacent the juncture of the intermediate and outer sections and are vertically disposed when the seat is inverted and substantially horizontally disposed when the bed frame is folded and a rectangular frame to which said springs are connected at their upper ends, which frame is fastened to said spring fabric whereby the springs along the rear edge of the seat urge the spring fabric rearwardly in the sofa frame away from contact with the seat edge to permit the seat to rest in a horizontal position when folded.

3. A sofa bed including a sofa frame, a foldable sectional mattress frame consisting of an outer section, an intermediate section and an inner section, a flexible spring fabric joined to the sections of said frame, an invertible seat member pivotally connected with the sofa frame, means of connection between the bed frame and sofa frame, together with means of connection between the seat and bed frame providing for holding of the bed frame into position lying rearwardly of the seat and within the sofa frame, and a row of springs extending transversely of the bed frame being joined at certain ends to the spring fabric adjacent the juncture of the intermediate and outer frames and joined at their other ends to the under side of the seat member at a point adjacent the rear edge of said seat member when the latter is inverted, said springs lying in a substantially horizontal I position when the seat member is folded to force the spring fabric rearwardly away from engagement with the rear edge of the seat member.

4. A sofa bed including a sofa frame, a foldable sectional mattress frame consisting of an outer section, an intermediate section and an inner section, a flexible spring fabric joined to the sections of said frame, an invertible seat member pivotally connected with the sofa frame, together with means of connection between the seat and bed frame providing for holding of the bed frame into position lying rearwardly of the seat and within the sofa frame, a row of springs extending transversely of the bed frame being joined at certain ends to the spring fabric adjacent the juncture of the intermediate and outer frames and joined at their other ends to the under side of the seat member at a point adjacent the forward edge of said seat member when the latter is inverted, a rectangular wire frame extending beneath the spring fabric and secured thereto, to which said springs are secured and a clamping strip. for securing the other ends of the springs to the seat member.

JOSEPH D. BELL. 

